Tag Archives: Touch the Water

For those of you with an interest in the the Los Angeles River, or any curious Angelenos who enjoy theater in an unusual setting, be sure not to miss the Cornerstone Theater Company’s production of Touch the Water. Part of Cornerstone Theater’s four year series, the Justice Cycle, Touch the Water fittingly focuses on environmental justice issues related to the turbulent history of the Los Angeles River, from devestating floods, to channelization of the river for flood control, to current revilatilaztion efforts. Told from the perspective of characters with deep connections to the Los Angeles River, be they animal, human, or spirits in between, the play explores the complex intersection of nature, community and a wildly heterogenous urban environment.

The setting of the play is ideal, occuring in an undeveleloped section of Rio de Los Angeles State Park. The stage set overlooks the Glendale Narrows which is the longest natural section of the Los Angeles River. The natural riparian environment provides habitat for egrets, heron, black-necked stilt, and other water fowl that may sometimes also be seen in the less scenic regions of the 52 mile concrete river channel. LASHP staff was on hand last Saturday for a pre-performmance reception and viewing, and was throughoughly enchanted by the natural river beneath an immense and spectacularly cloudy sky. If you are interested in seeing the play, it is running for only two more weeks, so hurry up. Click the link below for more information.Touch the Water